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Sony has announced two of the most advanced, versatile Cyber-shot cameras ever to come to market, the compact RX100 IV (model DSC-RX100M4) and high-zoom RX10 II (model DSC-RX10M2) cameras.

The two new models both feature the world’s first 1.0 type stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor with advanced signal processing and an attached DRAM memory chip. The high speed signal processing and DRAM memory chip work together to enable more than 5x faster readout of image data and are responsible for a variety of standout features that have previously been available in only a select few professional-level video cameras. These impressive capabilities include 40x super slow motion video capture at up to 1000fps,an ultra-fast Anti-Distortion Shutter with a maximum speed of 1/32000 second, high resolution 4K movie shooting and more.

Up to 40x Super Slow Motion Shooting

A first for Sony consumer cameras, the new RX100 IV and RX10 II both have the ability to record super slow-motion video at up to 40x slower than the standard rate, allowing users to capture and replay fleeting moments of action with incredible detail, resolution and clarity.

Prior to shooting, users will have the ability to choose among 1000fps, 500fps and 250fps frame rates and among 50p and 25p playback formats to optimise the recording to fit the speed of the moving subject, with the option to use the movie record button as a ‘start trigger’ to begin recording once button is pressed or ‘end trigger’ to record footage up until the button is pressed. The ‘end trigger’ mode lets shooting begin 2 to 4 seconds before the movie button is pressed, enabling shooters to capture the decisive moment with much more consistency and accuracy. For reference, two seconds of movie footage shot at 1000fps and 25p would take about 80 seconds to play back.

High Speed Shutter, High Speed Shooting

The impressive speed and power of the 1.0 type stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor with an attached DRAM chip allows the new RX100 IV and RX10 II to perform exceptionally well while capturing fast-moving subjects.

Specifically, it’s fast processing capability results in continuous speeds at up to 16 fps on the RX100 IV and up to 14 fps on the RX10 II for an extended period of time.

Additionally, the ultra-fast readout of the image sensor is responsible for the high speed Anti-Distortion Shutter (maximum speed of 1/32000 second), which allow the new cameras to capture sharp, crystal clear images with a wide open aperture at brightness levels up to EV19. It also minimises the “rolling shutter” effect commonly experienced with fast moving subjects. This allows photographers and videographers to capture beautiful content with sharply focused subjects and defocused backgrounds under some of the most difficult, bright lighting conditions.

High Precision Direct 4K Movie Recording

The new RX100 IV and RX10 II models are the first Cyber-shot cameras to offer the advantages of 4K (QFHD 3840×2160) movie recording. The cameras utilise full pixel readout without pixel binning to ensure that all the finer details of 4K video are captured with minimal moire and ‘jaggies’. These high-quality results are achieved through use of the XAVC S codec, which records video at a high data rate of 100 Mbps during 4K recording and 50 Mbps during full HD shooting.

The capacity for shooting 4K differs slightly on each of the two cameras, as the more professionally styled RX10 II can shoot 4K video at extended lengths (up to 29 minutes in Europe), while the more casual, pocket-friendly RX100 IV can shoot 4K clips at up to about 5 minutes in length. Additional professional calibre video features on both of the new cameras include Picture Profile, S-Log2/S-Gamut, and more.

Both cameras also have advanced dual video recording functionality, allowing shooters to capture 16.8 MP still images during 4K video recording in any of 11 different composition patterns simply by pressing the shutter button.

Versatility in Design, High Speed AF

The new RX100 IV maintains the compact, pocket-sized design of the RX100 family, and has a ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T 24-70mm (35mm equivalent) F1.8-F2.8 lens, while the new RX10 II maintains the same body design as the original RX10 and has a ZEISS® Vario-Sonnar T 24-200mm (35mm equivalent) F2.8 lens.

Each of the cameras is equipped with a new high-contrast XGA OLED Tru-Finder™ with approximately 2.35 million dots of resolution, ensuring true-to-life image preview and playback functionality. The RX100 IV maintains the convenient retractable EVF with ZEISS® T* coating from the RX100 III model that debuted last year.

Both of the two new models feature an upgraded Fast Intelligent AF system that enables high-speed, high-precision contrast detection of a moving subject in as little as 0.09 seconds. Sony’s proprietary AF algorithm allows them to recognise and lock-in on a subject with a simple half-press of the shutter button at a much more efficient rate compared to previous models. The new cameras are also Wi-Fi® and NFC™ compatible and can access Sony’s growing range of PlayMemories Camera Applications. Learn more at www.sony.net/pmca.

Aesthetically, both of the new models feature a variety of customisable controls and buttons to fit any shooter’s style. The RX10 II adds dust and moisture resistance as well.

There is also a new stylish soft carrying case for, model LCS-RXG, that has been introduced. Made of quality natural leather and available in brown and black colours, it is an ideal complement to the sleek designs of all the RX100 series cameras including the new RX100 IV model.

The RX100 IV and RX10 II will start shipping in Europe in summer 2015. The RX100 IV will be priced at approximately €1,150 and the RX10 II will be priced approximately €1,600.

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A little money can get you quite a lot in technology now. Years ago the idea of bluetooth headphones left the user unhappy with laggy audio, bulky form factors, short battery lives and high price tags. Now all that seems to be reversed. Bluetooth headphones are cheap as chips and you don’t need to spend a lot of get good value.

Take the Olixar X2 Pro Bluetooth headphones. £25 from Mobilefun. They look good, promise around 10 hours of usage and impressive sound. All completely accurate.

The headphones are made from predominantly from plastic. You can’t really expect a high quality finish at this price however they are sturdy and will withstand any number of light to medium knocks. They certainly are not ugly either. In fact the spongy head band has an ample cushion and looks quite elegant at a glance. A little aluminum around the screws break the blackness quite nicely and give just the tiniest addition of quality.

Everything is glossy plastic around the exterior. Some will be a little put off by this as it might have been better suited to have a matte finish. The shiny finish does seem to be used on many cheaper gadgets in an attempt to add a high quality feel.

The fold mechanism is quite strong, you will break it if you are very careless however it will take some heavy use before it fails. The same with the adjustable legs.

Playback produced commendable results for the 20mW output. There is more than adequate bass, however this does seem to be of a higher focus than the treble. Whilst the sound produced is quite agreeable there is something missing in the mix and it doesn’t feel as full as you might get on higher end phones. They thump but don’t dazzle.

For calls the microphone and receiver were both adequate. Speaking on 3uk’s HD network, calls were crisp and rich. The person on the other end didn’t notice an particular issues with the call quality at their end.

There is mention of noise cancellation technology and it doesn’t quite cut it. Use on the plane was irritating. The volume limiting on my tablet has always been a problem however in ear noise cancelling headphones have helped boost the experience in a the constant hum of the engines. The olixar X2 don’t have this benefit and there were moments I was having to strain to hear lightly dialogue in a movie. The noise cancellation does not work very well in either direction, letting sound in or keeping it from seeping out.

Comfort is one of the most important aspects of headphones, almost on par with sound quality. For short bursts the X2 are perfectly comfortable. Using the headphones on a three hour flight I found my ears were growing weary of the padding and I switched to my in ear headphones for the journey back.

NFC seemed like a really nice inclusion to bypass the anguish of having to open Bluetooth and connect on the go however I never managed to get it to work. Perhaps it is my phone, I saw an attempt to connect short followed by a failure notification soon after. Hardly a deal breaker, but enough to annoy.

In built controls were a little wonky on my Samsung. A problem I have had with other headphones. Volume Up and Down skipped tracks or exited a movie. Depending on the app in use. There are a great many button combinations to interact with calls, apps and tracks however they will take a while to learn to get the most out of them. I became a little frustrated trying to remember them, I wonder just how many folk out there make the effort.

I honestly cannot comment negatively on the battery. I have charged it once and maybe used it for about 10 hours over the course of the week. The are still going and I have the audio cable with me in the event the charge depletes. I would say the estimate from Olixar is accurate and in comparison to other, more expensive, headphones I have used of late, I am very happy.

The Olixar X2 are fine headphones. You could do a lot worse for the money. I would have been a little happier paying an extra £5-£10 for better noise cancelling set however these work, and work well. I would imagine they will continue to work for the next while and whilst I will not be using them for travel, I will find a place for them in the house.

The ALCATEL ONETOUCH POP 7S was last night announced as the ‘Best Value Tablet’ at the annual Mobile Industry Awards. Beating competition from the likes of Samsung, Acer and Tesco, the POP 7S was awarded the prize at the awards ceremony held at The Brewery in London. Judged by leaders in the mobile industry, the POP 7S tablet was recognised for offering super-fast LTE connectivity at a smart price.

The super slim and light 4G entry-level tablet is perfect for streaming music, watching TV or browsing the internet. Sporting Android KitKat 4.4, the POP 7S is a fun and feature-packed POP series tablet that is easy-to-use and easy-to-choose. It offers a customised user interface and wide range of dedicated colourful accessories.

The POP 7S is one of the most competitive LTE 7” entry-level tablets available to the mass market. At 8.9mm thin and weighing only 285 grams it is ideal to be effortlessly carried in any backpack, satchel or handbag. Powered by a Quad Core processor, the POP 7S allows seamless multi-tasking between different activities such as gaming or streaming music and comes equipped with a 3 megapixel rear camera to capture priceless moments on the go.

WithMiracast, IR blaster technology and a pre-installed app, the POP 7S will become the TV’s best friend. It allows users to mirror screens, control their TV and personalise their daily TV entertainment. Its full-featured TV guide allows users to choose what they want to watch and makes it easy to share with friends and family through social media. The POP 7S brings a brand new interaction to consumers between their tablets and TV, reflecting

Voice call support means that the POP 7S is able to make and receive calls via a Bluetooth phone – Sidekick, headset or loudspeaker. Users can continue to browse while catching up with friends and family about the latest films, favourite music or online games.

William Paterson, UK & Ireland Country Director commented: “We are delighted to accept this award. ALCATEL ONETOUCH’s aim is to democratize technology and make it affordable and accessible for all. This award is fantastic recognition of our work to achieve this.”

The POP 7S is available from nationwide retailers including Carphone Warehouse, EE, O2 and Amazon.co.uk priced from £95.00.

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This last week easyJet has taken the opportunity to share some of their recent developments with the public in what seems to be becoming a yearly tradition. For select group of the press an event in an aircraft hangar in Milan contained a demonstration of some of the research alongside a positive attitude and some beaming pride in what easyJet has achieved.

EasyJet has the reputation of being a better quality of low end travel providing something of a bus service to popular areas in Europe. Whilst maintaining a steady and commendable reputation easyJet has a lot of interesting developments happening behind the scenes to reduce time for which their planes are out of action and efforts to reduce costs across the board to pass on to the customers.

One of the first innovations easyJet are proud to demonstrate is a simple but cost efficient inclusion. Oculus Rift can help engineers determine problems by posting virtual notes to areas in need of repair around a virtual aircraft. There was also reference made to cabin staff receiving training via the wearable goggles. This does not seem to be a massive stride however from easyJet’s internal point of view there is potential.

EasyJet are upgrading their application. Throwing in a few new features to keep their app fast and easy to use, not to mention a handy tool to cover everything you might need from your flight experience. For starters the app has been reformatted for 64 bit architecture to keep it running lightning fast.

Secondly, a new feature will allow the user to receive updates about their flight including notifications from the likes of Periscope if there has been a disruption. A helping hand has been extended to the user to guide them through the airport to find their gate, at the moment this only works in Gatwick however the are rolling it out to their busiest 10 airports and they hope to have it in place by launch in July.

Whilst it sounds alarming easyJet demonstrated their ability to print parts for their aircraft. Rather than having to pay for costly replacements a process is being finalised whereby easyJet can utilise some cutting edge 3D printing technologies and first class materials to manufacture their own parts. Whilst this is a time consuming process the cost implications will be notable without any impact on safety.

Two years ago easyJet demonstrated their drone scanning ideas to scan a plane in minutes to access damage that would normally take a the human eye a few hours. The drone technology is constantly evolving and new developments are being made at a refreshing rate. Safety seems to be the focus this year with collision detection being a new addition. Not only for the drone to keep a close yet safe distance from the surface of the plane but for Engineers who might be working within close proximity to the plane and drone at the time of scanning.

It is refreshing to see a company that may not have a reputation for innovation, yet easyJet has become an example of proactive development, not only in cost saving but technological advancements. Their model is interesting and somewhat commendable.

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KitSound introduces the new Storm Gaming Headphones, featuring wireless connectivity, 40 mm drivers and delicate tuning to ensure that no sound is lost as well as, a detachable microphone and multi platform compatibility.

The new Storm Gaming Headphones will make you experience your gaming in a totally fresh way. Purposefully designed for multi-compatibility, the Storm engages with Xbox, Playstation, and PC. The 2.4 GHz transmission connectivity provides a wire-free alternative that will offer you clear sound with the minimum of lag.

Now you can decide whether you want to play alone or team up with others thanks to the detachable microphone that comes with each Storm. With up to seven hours of battery life, your Storm Gaming Headphones give you the chance to bring the storm to your opponents hour after hour.

What’s more the Storm Gaming Headphones are comfortable to wear thanks to the soft and delicate ear cups and the flexible headband. RRP £30.00

Specifications

Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz

Drivers: 40 mm

Connection: 2.4 GHz

Connection range: up to 10 metres

Play time: up to 7 hours

Microphone input: 3. 5 mm

KitSound products are available in most high street and online retailers.

For further product information and details on where to buy, please visit www.kitsound.co.uk

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Alcatel Onetouch, one of the world’s fastest-growing smartphone brands, announces the UK release of the smallest smartphone in the third generation of its PIXI family, the PIXI 3 (3.5). The petite entry level smartphone features a 3.5-inch display. .

Ideal for the first time smartphone user, the PIXI 3 (3.5) runs on the easy to use Android Kitkat operating system and features a 2 megapixel camera. Pre-loaded with popular apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and graphic filters plus photo editors the PIXI 3 (3.5) is ready to go straight out of the box.

The compact PIXI 3 (3.5) offers a dual core processor and 3G internet access, with a micro SD card slot, to enable up to 32MB of storage. The PIXI 3 (3.5) also permits its principal user to enable Guest Mode, to protect user privacy in certain applications, photos and videos.

The PIXI 3 (3.5) is available in White from Sainsbury’s stores nationwide and the phoneshopbysainsburys.co.uk website.

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Archos, is changing the way you take selfies with a phone that recognises when you’re making the peace sign in camera mode and captures the perfect selfie for you. No more trying to hold your phone at the right angle while pushing the tiny button on the side. With the Archos 50C Helium all you have to do is flash a peace sign and smile! The £99 phone is no one trick pony with a large 5 inch screen to see how good you look and a quad core processor running on Android 4.4 Kit Kat, this phone offers a lot features as well as amazing value for money.

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The LG G4 is now available to preorder at Mobiles.co.uk from £32.50 per month. The online phone retailer can also confirm that the black leather back edition will be exclusive to the Dixons Carphone Group, which Mobiles.co.uk is part of. The G4 packs plenty of punch with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 808 64-bit hexa-core chip replacing the Snapdragon 801 found in the G3.

The camera is where the G4 excels. It comes packed with a 16 megapixel rear mounted lens coupled with an f1.8 aperture designed to deliver spectacular low-light photography. It also includes RAW support to get professional photographers excited. On the front is an 8 megapixel lens that can be activated by hand gestures – perfect for selfie snappers.

The display on the LG G4 is stunning. The new 5.5 inch Quantum IPS display and places it up there with other phones at the top-end of the market. It also benefits from a high contrast ratio, helping it compete with Samsung’s Super AMOLED display, despite being LCD.

Android fans mourning the loss of a replaceable battery and Micro SD card slot on Samsung’s latest S6 devices will be glad to see that both are retained on the G4.

Abby Francis at Mobiles.co.uk adds: “The G4 is a fantastic looking and performing Android smartphone. While the unique leather-back design will get plenty of attention it shouldn’t distract from the power under the hood and phone’s excellent camera. Coming in slightly cheaper than Samsung’s S6 and Apple’s iPhone 6 the G4 will provide great competition in the high-end smartphone space.”

The handset will be available in black leather, brown leather and titan grey.

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ViewSonic, a leading global provider of visual solution products, introduces the VG2860MHL-4K Ultra HD monitor designed specifically with business professionals in mind. Building upon its award-winning display heritage, ViewSonic’s new Ultra HD VG2860MHL-4K meets the needs of demanding business professionals.

“Business users tend to use multiple monitors in their current setups, in finance trading, and even editorial sectors. UHD monitors negate the needs for complicated and often expensive setups by allowing them to be replaced with a single UHD monitor. With PC and monitor life cycles of 3 to 4 years, switching to a UHD monitor is a future proof choice that allows companies to save money for assets refresh. ViewSonic is harnessing two decades as a leader and innovator in displays to deliver a complete portfolio of Ultra HD monitors which focus on the needs of business users, such as comfort or the ability to multitask,” said Claire Chuang, Product Marketing Manager at ViewSonic Europe Ltd.

For business applications like surveillance, financial trading and content editing applications, ViewSonic’s VG2860MHL-4K 28-inch Ultra HD LED monitor is the perfect solution. With 3840 x 2160 at 60Hz native resolution, it displays 4 times more images with twice more refined detail than a full HD monitor. The 10 bit colour processing delivers 1.07 billion colours, which is 64 times more than a conventional 8 bit monitor to ensure smooth greyscale and life like images. The VG2860MHL-4K meets industry standard up to 96% sRGB for exceptional colour performance.

The VG2860MHL-4K’s MultiPicture function supports Picture-in-picture (PIP), Picture-by-picture (PBP) and equally split horizontal and vertical images up to 4 video input sources which is ideal for multi-tasking, financial trading, and surveillance. It comes with a mini PC mountable stand that keeps your desk tidy. The VESA standard holes provide the flexibility for installation on bracket and wall mount. The stand is also fully ergonomic supporting tilt, swivel, height adjustment and pivot, which boost the productivity and provide a more comfortable viewing experience.

In terms of connectivity, the VG2860MHL-4K comes with DisplayPort 1.2 and Mini DisplayPort 1.2 both supporting 4K resolution at 60Hz. The HDMI and MHL ports expand the connectivity to Blu-ray DVD, DSLR camera and mobile devices. It also has 4 USB ports and dual speakers built in. It also boasts a fast response time of 2ms to ensure smooth images for surveillance video, motion picture editing and office works.

The VG2860MHL-4K also features a Blue Light Filter setting that allows users to adjust the amount of blue light emitted from the screen for a more comfortable viewing experience. ViewSonic’s flicker-free technology completely removes flickers to reduce computer vision syndrome.

Confident about our product quality, ViewSonic is offering industry-leading warranty and 4 years extended warranty to maximize the productivity over the product life time and to secure your asset investment.

The VG2860MHL-4K is available now with an MSRP of US$599, £369, €499 excluding VAT.